We all know what an immersing game WoW can be, so its hard to know where to find just the information you’re looking for sometimes. You might be looking for gear lists, leveling guides, talent builds, boss strategies, character development tools to help you with theorycrafting, guild recruitment tools or any number of other things. These are all things I’ve spent hours looking for myself, and my list of bookmarked sites and RSS subscriptions is ever growing. Below, I’ve compiled a list of some of the sites I visit most frequently when I’m looking for specific information.
Add-Ons
1. Curse
This site is extremely popular, and most players have at least heard of it. It’s a repository of almost every WoW add-on currently available that provides a searchable and customizable database of add-on categories for every class and every play style. If you register for an account, you can even save a list of your favorite add-ons and receive emails when your favorites are updated. Curse also has a client available for automatic installs of add-ons you find on the site.
2. WoWInterface
WoWInterface offers almost all the same features as Curse, and has a vast repository of add-ons available for download. By registering for an account, you can also save a list of your favorite add-ons and receive notices when your favorites are updated. There are also discussion forums available for you to browse, so if you’re looking for a specific add-on or function, you can always check their forums for help.
3. WoWMatrix
This site offers a downloadable client to help you keep your add-ons up to date. Heard of a new add-on you’d like to try? WoWMatrix can search multiple add-on databases to locate the new add-on you’d like to install and will do the leg work for you. You don’t have to register an account, all you have to do is download the client and WoWMatrix will scan your add-ons to see what you’ve got installed and will automatically check for updates for you.
Boss Strategies
4. Boss Killers
This site has been around for a long, long time and features user-submitted guides for every raid boss in the game from Onyxia to Malygos. Guides are rated by visitors to help determine accuracy, clarity and usefulness. In addition, you’ll also find world progression information and links to guild sites to help with recruiting.
Character Development
5. CharDev
CharDev is easily one of my favorite sites to visit. By setting up an account you can create and save character talent and gear templates to help you figure out your best builds and gear sets and more easily determine your Best In Slot items. If you’d rather not set up an account, you can always browse templates created by others and let them do the work for you!
6. Warcrafter
Very similar to CharDev, this site allows you to set up and save character talent and gear templates in sandbox mode, or view existing character information straight from the Armory. You can also check gear scores and progression for guilds.
7. Be Imba!
This site allows you to load character data directly from the Armory and easily determine areas for improvement. It checks for gem and enchant quality and lets you know if you’ve got gems, enchants or items equipped that are low level, or inappropriate for your class/spec. In addition, Be Imba! will also give you a visual representation of the content you’re adequately geared for. You can also do gear audits for entire guilds!
8. WoW Heroes
WoW Heroes is extremely similar to Be Imba!, giving you information on where your character (or your guild) can stand improvement through gear upgrades.
9. Azeroth Advisor
The Advisor is a personalized email newsletter that sends guides and updates straight to your inbox as your characters level and improve. Articles include zone overviews and leveling guides, instance guides, raid strategies and boss walk-throughs, and a whole lot more. The Advisor also provides talent guides to help you choose the best talents for your level and interests, and information on where to find the best gear along the way. Each article is tailored specifically to fit your character, so every guide is helpful and informative for you.
Crafting
10. Crafter’s Tome
If you’ve ever wanted profession information, the Crafter’s Tome is the place to go. There are recipe lists and leveling guides for every crafting profession.
Databases
11. WoWHead
If you’re not familiar with WoWHead by now, you must have been living under a rock for quite some time. This site is the penultimate WoW Database site, powering many blogs and guide sites with mouse-over tooltips. If there’s an item, quest, NPC, zone, boss, or achievement in the game, you can find out all about it at WoWHead.
12. ThottBot
One of the first WoW database sites out there, ThottBot covers everything from talents, spells, quests, items and NPCs with a clean, spartan interface.
13. Allakhazam
Allakhazam has long offered game database information, and it’s WoW section is no different. Much like WoWHead and ThottBot, if it’s in the game, Allakhazam’s got it covered.
14. WoWDB
WoWDB provides many of the same features as other WoW Databases, however, the thing that really sets it apart is that you can actually create an account and save items to your “Wish List”, so if you’re looking for your next upgrade, you can save it to your list for easy reference later.
15. Lootables
The thing that sets Lootables apart from other WoW database sites is its search functionality and comparison tools. If you’re not quite sure what you’re looking for, particularly in terms of upgrades, but you’ve got a vague idea then Lootables is the place to check first.
16. Warcraft Pets
Want to impress your friends with a bunch of rare, snazzy non-combat pets? Warcraft Pets lets you search all the available non-combat pets in the game based on type, rarity, and availability.
Discussion Forums
17. Elitist Jerks
The ultimate theorycrafting hub, Elitist Jerks has long been the home of the cutting edge raid crowd. If you’re looking to do some serious min/maxing and you’re not sure where or how to start, stop by Elitist Jerks and check your class forums first. All the math nerds there have already done the work for you! They may not always be a cuddly or friendly bunch, but they definitely know how to crunch numbers.
18. Blog Azeroth
Looking for a blog? This is the place to check first. The Blog Azeroth forums are home to many of the web’s WoW bloggers and blog readers, and you’re sure to find a blog listing to suit your every need.
19. TKA Something
The original, unofficial Hunter forums, TKA Something was the home of the original Hunter shot rotation visual guides and Hunter AEP system. This place is chalk full of Hunter veterans that have been playing the class for years. If you’ve got Hunter questions, they’ve got Hunter answers.
20. Tank Spot
While not Hunter-related, Tank Spot is definitely worth checking out if you have tanking alts, or friends that tank that could use a little help. The boards are friendly and informative, and there are tons of articles that cover all aspects of tanking (for all tanking classes) in great detail.
Gear Lists
21. Kaliban’s Class Loot Lists
Whether you’re just starting and looking to head into the Deadmines for the first time, or you’re headed into Eye of Eternity on heroic, this site can tell you where your next upgrade is coming from. There are loot guides and tools for every class, spec and level range to browse through.
22. Shadow Panther
Another not-so-Huntery site, but definitely worth mentioning, Shadow Panther is the place to go if you’ve got Rogue questions. The site provides lists of the best builds for leveling, raiding, farming and PvP, as well as AEP charts for the best gear for each spec. There are also articles available to help improve your Rogue’s performance overall.
General
23. WoW Wiki
This site runs the gamut of available WoW information. If there’s just one WoW site you visit, this should be it. It’s a one-stop shop for all game-related information.
Guild Recruitment/Hosting
24. Looking For Guild
Need a new guild? Check the listings here once you’ve exhausted yourself with the official forums.
25. Guild Launch
One of the most popular free guild site hosts out there, Guild Launch can give you and your guildies a place to congregate and plan world domination through gaming. With several built-in features geared towards the specific needs of gamers, even the free version has plenty to offer.
26. Guild Portal
Much like Guild Launch, Guild Portal offers free (and paid) guild hosting to suit your needs.
Leveling Guides
27. WoW Pro
Home to the original Jame’s Leveling Guides, WoW Pro can help walk you step-by-step through the process of getting from 1 to 80, whether you’re Horde or Alliance. These beautifully written and illustrated guides can show you which quests to pick up in each zone, where to get them, and how to get them done in the most efficient way possible.
News
28. MMO-Champion
One of the foremost sources for breaking WoW news, MMO-Champion is notorious for being the first to announce leaked patch notes, new armor skins, new raids, and class updates. If you want current WoW news, check here first.
Podcasts
29. The Instance
One of my favorite podcasts of all time, Scott and Randy answer questions, give tips, and discuss current events relating to the game. While perhaps a bit more fun than informative, they’re definitely worth a listen!
30. WoW Radio
This site features a number of great shows for just about everything game-related. There are class-specific and general shows available to help with theorycrafting, or just to entertain you while you finish off your dailies.
31. Twisted Nether
The Twisted Nether blogcast is a great source of entertainment and information pertaining to all things found across the WoW Blogosphere. If it’s hip and happening on WoW Blogs, the Twisted Nether’s got it covered.
Raid Tools
32. RaidComp
Need to make sure you’re properly stacking your raid to receive the most buffs possible? This little tool from MMO-Champion uses a sleek interface to help you build your raid group for peak performance.
33. Loot Council
Having trouble doling out loot each week? This simple tool will do a quick Armory check to help you figure out where loot should be going.
And there you have it! What sites have you come across that you simply can’t play without?
WoW Web Stats … great for analyzing a Raid or even a 5-man dungeon after its over. You just have to remember to start your combat log to text file output with /combatlog just before the run, and stop it with the same command after the run.
http://wowwebstats.com/
/sigh.. I think you forgot 2 (3 but that would be a shameless plug lol)
34. The Hunter’s Mark
35. Less QQ More Pew Pew
Doesn’t this kind of speak to the poor design of the game that depends heavily on the 3rd party fan base to even play the game?
@Brigwyn — I intentionally left a listing of individual blogs out.
@Bad Mojo — Um, not really. How many games have you played that didn’t have 3rd party published strategy guides and fan sites to help players with the details? None, I’d reckon.
lootrank.com – Can’t believe you left this out after I reviewed it! /feign mortal wound.
Great list, Lass…some new things there for me to look at!
Strategy guides and fan sites are one thing. Not being able to know when you have too much +hit without someone else doing a bunch of math, not so much.
@ Lassirra: Nice job! And I like how it is general enough that it will be of use to other classes. Very well done.
@ Bad Mojo: Actually, I took it as a sign of the depth of the game and the flexibility of it. Just different ways of looking at it I guess.
Gunsnbutter Excelsior/Uther
@ Lass- lovely guide, I am constantly reminded of why your blog is my homepage
@Bad Mojo- If such a terrible game, why play?
@imjorman – You’re hardest on the ones you love the most.
Lovely list. There’s a couple there I’ll take a peek at for sure.
I do still question the accuracy of sites like be.imba, though. After replacing a blue with a purple of the same stats and it telling me I was ready for a whole tier of higher content, I bitch slapped it off my bookmarks.
(There was actual hand-to-screen contact)
And you should’ve plugged yourself! Grr! Or at least got one of the Hunter Island folk to do it. That counts, right?
<3
While I agree with all of the above, and infact use a few more, I do think you have missed possibly the single most useful site for hunters everywhere, the site that every hunter knows and loves.
Petopia.
Just a thought.
If you include the pet database, why not the mount one on warcraftmounts.com? It’s the only thing I know that features screenshots of all mounts, apart from looking in the model viewer ;]
Thank you so much for your great work, and especially latest post, it is AWESOME!
Mo
Wow… I never stopped and counted how many pages I view to get information for WoW. That’s alot! Hard to believe that all of this stuff has been built in just the last few years.
@Bob — Perhaps that’s why the title is not “The Only WoW Resources You’ll Ever Need”?
@Bad Mojo — I’m inclined to agree with Gunsnbutter. Its technically not a matter of not being able to play the game at all without these things, its a matter of learning how to play the game better because of these things.
@ Bad Mojo:
Only a foolish person would discover a way to do something and decide immediately that their way is the only way. All the sites listed provide additional information and opportunities for discussion which embiggen our knowledge of the game.
What? Embiggen is a perfectly cromulent word.
Nice list. Now i know what to do at work
You might consider adding a 34th: Petopia.
This site includes most of what one would want to know about Hunter pets.
@BadMojo- I can agree with you there, it is easy to get on the ones we love the most
@Lass- I may be incorrect, but I have heard of WOW matrix to be buggy and open for comprimise and account hacking…Is this a possibility or am I over cautious?
@Imjorman — I haven’t had problems with WoW Matrix. Haven’t encountered any bugs, and I’ve got an authenticator now, so I’m not real worried.